Latest rip-off from Jetstar

[bossreggie]

Well in my instance.... My return flights for 2, including the "$10 Forward seats" cost a TOTAL of $118. Still get QC access due to status so was a no brainer compared with QF. I don't need 20 SC's that bad.... However............DEFO need to get off the plane quickly!

 

[swylie]

Here's the thing - if I were flying an LCC, I'd be looking to limit my costs as much as possible.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not advocating Jetstar's decision to charge for these seats... BUT... Increasingly, Jetstar and DJ are becoming a necessary evil as QF pulls out of domestic routes - e.g. SYD-AAV or MEL-NCL (or MEL-PQQ via DJ).

So I think it's fair enough that people who would normally pay a premium for QF seats (but perhaps not 4x or higher the cost of a 'Saver' fare) still get options in terms of increasing comforts, conveniences/etc when they have to fly on LCC's.

 

[Keith009]

I don't see how exactly this is a "rip-off" either. It's not like this is some unilateral surcharge on an essential service unlike Ryanair's check in fine even for those who OLCIed. If you really need to get off the plane quickly, $35 to sit at the front is better than the alternative which is paying for PE on DJ which I'm sure costs a lot more and only gets you middle seat blocking, the same legroom, and comp onboard catering which again would not cost as much as a PE fare which can come close to a D fare on QF.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Originally Posted by gilby08
I reckon JQ will start charging Saver Lite fares a seat allocation fee soon! But then again people will pay for it and it is a LCC

Not all people would pay for it & I think it's sheer arrogance of the airlines to assume consumers will blindly hand over extra $$$ for the privilege. I would allocate the best seat I could according to the airfare that I paid but would try on the day to maybe get an exit row if they were still available. If I couldn't I would still be perfectly happy with my original seat.

Of course any commodity is worth what anyone is willing to pay for it. So if paying an extra $10.00 means someone doesn't have to wait 45 mins for a cab then that is money well spent in their book.

Full marks to those AFFers who know when DJ are using a stand off bay and thus the rear stairs to disembark!

Cheers

Oz

 

[flyer4703]

Aah I see the value in this as well, CBR is like this too (not that JQ fly to CBR), and it is just like immigration delays at international terminals where 5 mins can translate into 30mins or longer. But what about in the other direction at BNE? I know at SYD/MEL it probably wouldn't be much use as there's a good chance another plane (or 5) could have landed just ahead of you anyway !

I don't pay extra for a forward seat back to Brisbane I always have my car at the airport and doubt I would even if I had to wait for a taxi.

The reason I pay on the way to Mackay is that my trips there are brief, usually six hours, so if I waste forty five minutes waiting for a taxi it really cuts into my work day.

 

[Alanslegal]

And welcome to AFF footbum.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

As an LCC JQ will continue to try to charge for anything that is perceived as a 'value-add'...be that pre-allocating seats at the front of the plane.

Like it or not there are a small number of people who will happily pay for this...and then there are the people like me who will politely ask on the day at check in and usually get a good seat anyhow minus the charge.

Just yesterday flying DJ I asked if there were any other seats available (I was allocated 23B)...was handed my new boarding pass that read 1A - only cost me a smile.

 

[JohnK]

The last time I flew JQ, the check in person told me that those on JetFlex (as I always fly) will be allocated front of aircraft seating by default due to the additional fare cost - maybe this is the start of it?

I hope so, I hate seeing the $35 fares in row 1 and 2 while I get row 17!

And there is a very good chance you will continue to be pre-allocated row 17 if booking airfares late (say a week before the flight) and all the seats upfront have been pre-allocated to passengers who booked flights months in advance and were prepared to pay for the privilege to sit upfront.

 

[davidj-bell]

Frequent Flyers who use Jetstar on domestic routes may have noticed when you book online you can now fork out an extra 10 bucks for an 'up-front' seat - WOW!!!

Seriously - is that extra 5 or so minutes saved waiting to disembark before lining up at the luggage carousel really worth it?

I guess it might be OK if you are an occasional traveller - but who in their right mind would pay for that?

I'm not sure why you're calling this a rip-off - it's not as if you have to pay for this (unlike ryan air, where they do charge you to check in, seeing as you can't not check in if you want to fly, why not include that in the base price???)

To answer your question about is it worth it, that's for each of us to decide. Some of us might pay the extra $10 for the privelege, personally I probably wouldn't.

 

[davidj-bell]

So if there's a plane full of people like me, none of whom will pay for seat allocation / up front seats, then what do they do with these seats they're trying to push at a premium? It almost becomes like a quasi op-up situation - they can't force people to pay extra for them, and if they put people in those seats for free, then why would anyone pay for them in the future?

If no-one pays, then yes, it's like a quasi op-up, and I guess will be handed out on a first-come first serve basis. So if you want a front seat, turn up 2 hours before hand to try your luck. But if you want to *guarantee* it, then you pay. I can't see a lot of people paying, but as it's such a (relativley) low amount of money, perhaps some will. And from Jetstar's point of view, it's a nill-cost revenue (ie, it won't cost them anything, so the $10 is pure profit).

 

[davidj-bell]

Increasingly, Jetstar and DJ are becoming a necessary evil as QF pulls out of domestic routes - e.g. SYD-AAV or MEL-NCL (or MEL-PQQ via DJ).

I assume you mean AVV (avalon) and NTL (newcastle)?

 

[Intrusivefever]

It's only a rip off if you pay for it. Just don't pay it and you won't be 'ripped off'. Obviously some people are paying for it, each to their own. I'ts the same in any business, if you relise that you have a product that people will gladly pay for, of course you will offer it.

 

[swylie]

I assume you mean AVV (avalon) and NTL (newcastle)?

Yep, sorry... was typing from my iPhone and not checking

 

[browski]

Gee, all you guys are just so accepting of airline attempts to skim more money.
Here's the solution that I implement, it's so simple.

After the aircraft has docked at the terminal, stand up from you 25C aisle seat and grab your bulky carry-on luggage. Then quickly and violently push your way past the other passengers until you reach the front of the plane. If anyone takes issue with this, simply look them in the eye and say "I am obviously way more important than LCC scum like you", then walk off the aircraft. Works a treat.

Spend the $10 saved on a little gift for the missus.

 

[djfuzz]

Gee, all you guys are just so accepting of airline attempts to skim more money.
Here's the solution that I implement, it's so simple.

After the aircraft has docked at the terminal, stand up from you 25C aisle seat and grab your bulky carry-on luggage. Then quickly and violently push your way past the other passengers until you reach the front of the plane. If anyone takes issue with this, simply look them in the eye and say "I am obviously way more important than LCC scum like you", then walk off the aircraft. Works a treat.

Spend the $10 saved on a little gift for the missus.

And if the FAs get lippy, start crying and sell your story to Nonews. :mrgreen:

 

[footbum]

Thanks everyone for their comments & thanks also to Alanslegal for the Welcome!

I agree with the comment - that it's a rip-off if you feel a need to pay for it. If it has some value like saving the long wait for a taxi or the next air train, then I guess perhaps it is worth it - it's up to the individual to decide.

That extra 10 bucks might not sound a lot, but if you are a FF it adds up. Even if JQ is a LCC why shouldn't they try to reward regular, returning customers?

Despite JQ being a LCC it's a shame that they are starting to charge paying passengers for more and more services. I didn't know some airlines charged for checking in on top of the airfare - If is unavoidable because of luggage etc and you have already paid for luggage allowance that to me is a rip-off :evil:.


More and more airlines and other critical service providers are putting their own "made up" value on things to squeeze as many extra bucks out of us. I guess it's their perogative to do so, but if FF and other travellers don't make a fuss about it (or vote with their feet) then they will continue to get away with it and more and more "items" will be suddently be seen as "value-add" that incur an additional cost. To me it's the thin edge of the wedge.....
I saw last year Ryanair(?) were considering making their inflight toilets a pay per use feature - I'm not sure if that ever went ahead but I'd definitely switch to a different carrier if JQ ever stooped that low!

 

[gilby08]

That extra 10 bucks might not sound a lot, but if you are a FF it adds up. Even if JQ is a LCC why shouldn't they try to reward regular, returning customers?

Despite JQ being a LCC it's a shame that they are starting to charge paying passengers for more and more services. I didn't know some airlines charged for checking in on top of the airfare - If is unavoidable because of luggage etc and you have already paid for luggage allowance that to me is a rip-off :evil:.

But that is the point of a LCC!!!!
In the past when have people ever travelled from MEL-SYD for less than $30 each way (and less in some occasions and of course other routes)?

 

[footbum]

Gilby08 - those stupid fares are beside the point - you don't get those kind of deals if you are a regular FF travelling for work - those fares are for routes and flights that are outside of the times most FF would be flying!

Of course if you are a FF and also have the flexibility to make the most of those deals than good on you, but most FF fly Monday morning and return Friday evening - and you won't see ridiculous fares offered on those flights!

 

[mannej]

Ryanair does not charge for seat allocation...


because it is a free for all when getting onto the plane

 

[djfuzz]

I'm not sure if this was touched on earlier (and I'm pretty sure it wasn't there last time I flew with them) but JQi now charges $2 in order to access seat selection for any seat.

It's almost a trivial amount and I'm on a cheap domestic sector, but since I had already paid the fare and they were trying to charge me again on the website, I didn't do it on principle - having said that I would have to think twice about whether I'd stump up for it on an international segment (especially with several sectors and several passengers).

It makes the $7 for up front seat selection seem almost trivial - maybe this is the way in which Jetstar is forcing the upsell.

On the other hand, having taken my chances and abstained from playing that game, sure enough on check in I was allocated my preference (aisle) in one of the so-called 'up front' seats at no charge - so I do wonder if enough people catch on whether it may be a self-defeating surcharge.